More than a month into the fall semester, Chapman University administration, faculty, health experts and other community partners have met countless times to discuss COVID-19 protocols and how best to open the university while also emphasizing a safe environment.

Frank Frisch, the Faculty Senate President, said he has been in meetings twice a week discussing the ever-changing nature of COVID-19.

“(The protocols) change as we understand the virus better and the extent to which students, staff and faculty are vaccinated,” Frisch said. “That all has a story in how the protocols evolve, but today, with today’s data, I think we are doing a really good job in the management of the virus and still operating in the world.”

Not all faculty agree. Frisch described two opinions in the minority of Chapman’s faculty population: some professors who would rather teach entirely from home, and others who believe masks and vaccinations are unnecessary.

“Most of the faculty are comfortable with the protocols,” Frisch said. “There are some faculty that don’t want to leave their bedroom, and there are some faculty that think masks and vaccination are completely stupid.” 

COVID-19 cases have stayed low after the university’s initial outbreak during the first few weeks of the semester, causing some community members to argue that masks — which are mandated indoors everywhere on campus — are no longer necessary.

An online petition — which has gathered over 500 signatures as of Oct. 11 — argues that both the state and county do not mandate masks, which are dirty and often worn improperly. Instead, the petition writers argue that students should have the opportunity to utilize virtual options instead of being forced to wear a mask.

This effort comes after the Chapman Activist Coalition lobbied for online or hybrid live virtual classes, which came hand-in-hand with a petition that, as of Oct. 11, boasts over 2,100 signatures.

Chapman has distanced itself from virtual learning during the fall semester after selling Brandman University to the University of Massachusetts and current protocols not permitting Zoom classes for students and faculty concerned about exposure. 

This distance from virtual opportunities has upset both extremes of faculty and students who are dissatisfied with the current protocols. However, Frisch emphasized that technology, like Zoom, can still be utilized in the classroom if a professor or student cannot make it to class. Frisch described how he would use Zoom before the pandemic when he would travel and still need to hold classes.

“We are not an online institution, and we really don't want classes to be online for the semester or any protracted period of time,” Frisch said. “But, there is a place for online instruction on occasion — under certain circumstances — so, we don't want to throw out technology.”

Frisch explained that many students and faculty had previously incorrectly assumed that these guidelines forbid the use of Zoom in any way due to a possible lack of effective communication.

“Early communications were maybe not as clear as the current protocol,” Frisch said. “The current protocol allows for faculty to use technology when and if necessary to provide instruction for people who cannot make it to class because of illness. Does this mean, ‘I'm really concerned about COVID-19, (so) I'm going to teach online?’ No.”

Another issue circulating campuses has been the The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which creates national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other personal health information.

However, the HIPAA privacy rule does not forbid any individual from inquiring about someone’s vaccination status, even a school or employer. The HIPAA privacy rule would prohibit a doctor’s office from disclosing an individual’s protected health information, including whether they have received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Regardless, Brian Powell, Chapman’s Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, said faculty are not allowed to inquire about any student’s vaccination status under Chapman’s COVID-19 protocol.

“We have community members who cannot vaccinate because of underlying medical and or religious reasons,” Powell wrote in an email to The Panther. “Questioning that may compel an individual to discuss their underlying personal health information — (which) is a violation of privacy. Furthermore, it could potentially subject individuals to harassment and discrimination.”

New guidelines were released Oct. 8 regarding travel protocols during breaks. If students travel outside California, a COVID-19 test is required upon arrival in addition to a seven-day quarantine if the student is unvaccinated.

Chapman also announced the health center will add an additional testing site following breaks to accommodate the need for tests, in addition to increased contact tracing.

As of Oct. 11, 93% of the university population is fully vaccinated with a small percentage left to report: 97% of faculty, 89% of staff and 93% of students.

Although Frisch said he is happy and comfortable with Chapman’s current COVID-19 protocols, he wishes the university had mandated vaccinations for all that step onto campus.

“I personally would have been in favor of mandatory vaccinations for everybody, (where) you don’t come on campus unless you are vaccinated,” Frisch said. “The administration doesn't want to go that far, but boy, we are working toward it.”